Prisons are intended to be the means by which society carries out its objectives of punishment, deterrence, incapacitation, and rehabilitation. Although there are other ways to achieve these goals of society, the United States relies heavily on prisons as a correctional sanction.

Correctional facilities run by the federal government are for people who break federal laws such as those governing immigration and drug trafficking across state borders. Each state operates its own prison sys- tem as well, and over 85% of prisoners are in state prisons. There are many regional differences among state prisons and state criminal law. Many of these are problematic differences, with some states criminalizing the same actions that are legal in other states—crossing borders, marijuana possession, gay marriages, and abortion, to name a few. Rates of incarceration serve as the best method of comparison. There are striking differences in rates for minorities compared to Whites, for the wealthy compared to the poor, and for women compared to men.

Prisoners are usually classified into risk levels depending on their histories, their current offense, and other factors. Their classification level helps administrators separate prisoners into groups according to the degree

of supervision needed to control behavior and administer services.

Prisons are architecturally varied, but are typified by fortified structures, armed guards, razor wire, regimentation, controlled connections with the outside, and harsh conditions inside. Prisons are designed to accommodate a number of security levels—minimum being the least fortified for those prisoners who pose the lowest threat to public safety and safety within the facility. Medium security is more restrictive, and maximum is even more so. The supermax exerts the most control and isolation over prisoners. Its use is fraught with controversy. There are ongoing tensions and legal challenges between the administration of prisons and the rights of those confined inside.

Prison is used in the United States more than in any other nation, and the consequent financial and social costs are extremely high. Prisons are expensive to build and to operate. Addressing the basic needs of prisoners costs the taxpayers. Addressing the underlying issues that contribute to criminal offending is also expensive but may be considered an investment in the future safety of the community, as healthier, better educated, less drug-dependent, more employable former prisoners have a better chance of staying out of prison.

Conditions inside of prisons affect the prisoners and the prison staff as well. Discipline and maintaining order involve a complex balance of objectives for prison administrators. Research can help identify the ways in which prisons can operate more efficiently and with better success in rehabilitation.

• To understand how prisons are different from jail, and the basic characteristics of prisons, including their design.
• To grasp how and to what extent prisons function as part of the larger correctional system.
• To understand the basic facts of the state prison system versus the federal prison system.
• To gain a basic fluency in prison demographics.
• To understand prison classification systems and risk levels.
• To grasp some of the extremes in the system such as crowding, the supermax, and isolation.
• To know about basic types of prisoner services and understand some of the challenges involved in delivering them.
• To gain a basic sense of the prison environment.